Here we are at the midway point of an eventful weekend for the Club. Tomorrow we will be hosting the BMW Hong Kong Derby, when 14 top quality four-year-olds will compete for once-in-a-lifetime glory. And just hours ago, 24 unraced horses went through the auction ring and were purchased by their new owners at the 2015 Hong Kong International Sale, held at the Parade Ring of Sha Tin racecourse.
This season we arranged only one horse sale rather than two as we dispensed with the December sale. The scenario this season is the same as in 2011 when the sale was also scheduled in March. One of the merits of this approach is that it gives more time for these young horses to mature, and so that means they will be more ready, physically and mentally, to begin their careers as racehorses in their new stables.
Many potential buyers turned up and bid on the horses. If you have never been to a horse sale, I can tell you it is really an exciting experience and there was a great atmosphere this morning. I hope this latest batch of sale graduates will do well and bring much joy to their new owners in the future.
It’s every owner’s dream to win the Derby and tomorrow one lucky owner will go on stage to lift the coveted Derby trophy after his or her horse wins the blue riband contest. I believe many of you will beware that Sir Po-shing’s family and Pan Sutong are two of the owners with runners in tomorrow’s field who have tasted Derby successes in the past. Sir Po-shing’s horse Helene Star won this race in 1993, and his son Wilson and Jackson jointly owned the 2008 winner Helene Mascot. Pan Sutong clinched a win with Akeed Mofeed two years ago. But I think perhaps fewer of you might know that Hui Sai Fun, the owner of Anticipation, has also won the Derby once before. Way back in 1959, he was a part-owner of Fascination when that horse won the Derby, then staged at Happy Valley and over the distance of 12 furlongs. It will be a fairytale if Mr Hui can win this race once again after 56 years, and I wish him the best of luck tomorrow!
Hong Kong racing has always been catching attention from around the world. This year’s Derby has also attracted interest in Italy. Massimo Parri, the breeder of Beauty Only, has come to Hong Kong with his family and will be on hand to watch the Hong Kong Classic Mile winner’s performance at Sha Tin tomorrow. I learnt that the Parri family just started their horse breeding operation about 10 years ago but they have already gained huge success as they bred the 2013 Italian Derby winner Biz The Nurse, too. Of course now they are hoping that Beauty Only can do something similar and become a Derby winner here in Hong Kong.
The statistics are not on his side however, as I saw reports mentioning that no horse breaking from Beauty Only’s draw of five had won this race since the Derby moved to Sha Tin. And in fact the most recent Derby winner I could find from that draw was Gwynt-teg in 1971. Let’s see if Beauty Only can break the trend as, that statistic aside, draw five seems to be a good draw.
It’s hard to deny that the draw is usually an important factor for this 2000m race. But that doesn’t mean that wide draw is necessarily bad. Three of the past four Derby winners, including Designs On Rome, Fay Fay and Ambitious Dragon, started from draw 10 or higher. After all it’s the performances of the horse and jockeys that mattered. This year’s edition is being regarded as one of the most open Derbys we have had for years and I hope you will not miss out on what will be an electric contest at Sha Tin tomorrow. The atmosphere will be great, so come along and enjoy it with us.
With the draw the way it is, especially with horses such as Contentment, Gun Pit and Anticipation who are likely to go forward, it should guarantee a good pace which should give every horse a fair chance, as well as give horses like Luger and Beauty Only the chance to get good positions in midfield. The top-rated Luger drew Gate 12 and whether he can be in the shake-up here will depend on the tempo and whether he can stay the 2000m distance. I think Giant Treasure, Beauty Only and Redkirk Warrior should be the main chances in this race, but one should not underestimate Dynamism as his last win over the same course and distance was really impressive.
Apart from the Derby, don’t forget we will also have the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on our card tomorrow. Not only will the race feature the likes of Able Friend, Gold-Fun and Irish raider Gordon Lord Byron, but also it will be staged as an international Group 1 for the first time.
The pace of this race should be good with Beauty Flame and Secret Sham leading. Gold-Fun, Real Specialist and Divine Calling will settle in good positions behind the pace. Gordon Lord Byron should be well positioned in midfield, while Able Friend is expected to be a little bit further behind and Ambitious Dragon staying at the back. Able Friend is coming back to his best weight and should be difficult to beat, even the 1400m is likely not to be his best distance. Gold-Fun is in great form and is Able Friend’s main opponent, along with Gordon Lord Byron who looks well. Divine Calling is a win and place chance too as is Ambitious Dragon.
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